Endoscopic stapling devices and methods
First Claim
1. A medical instrument for forming a tissue fold, comprising:
- a head including;
a covering defining a vacuum chamber, the covering having an opening positionable in contact with tissue to be fastened such that application of suction to the vacuum chamber draws the tissue into the vacuum chamber;
first and second members at least partially disposed within the vacuum chamber, the first and second members being moveable relative to one another along an axis toward a compression position to compress tissue drawn into the vacuum chamber between the two members;
a driver operable to move the two members toward their compression position; and
structure coupling the first member and the second members, operable to extend outwardly away from said axis as the two members are moved toward their compression position, thereby to expand the chamber in the region between the two members and increase the area of a tissue fold that can be drawn into the chamber as the two members are moved toward their compression position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are endoscopic staplers used to apply one or more fasteners to body tissue. In one embodiment, a fastener-applying device, which is preferably a stapler, is passed transorally into the stomach and used to plicate stomach tissue by engaging tissue from inside of the stomach and drawing it inwardly. In the disclosed embodiments, the tissue is drawn inwardly into a vacuum chamber, causing sections of serosal tissue on the exterior of the stomach to be positioned facing one another. The disclosed staplers allow the opposed sections of tissue to be moved into contact with one another, and preferably deliver staples for maintaining contact between the tissue sections at least until serosal bonds form between them. Each of these steps may be performed wholly from the inside of the stomach and thus can eliminate the need for any surgical or laparoscopic intervention. After one or more plications are formed, medical devices may optionally be coupled to the plication(s) for retention within the stomach.
501 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A medical instrument for forming a tissue fold, comprising:
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a head including; a covering defining a vacuum chamber, the covering having an opening positionable in contact with tissue to be fastened such that application of suction to the vacuum chamber draws the tissue into the vacuum chamber; first and second members at least partially disposed within the vacuum chamber, the first and second members being moveable relative to one another along an axis toward a compression position to compress tissue drawn into the vacuum chamber between the two members; a driver operable to move the two members toward their compression position; and structure coupling the first member and the second members, operable to extend outwardly away from said axis as the two members are moved toward their compression position, thereby to expand the chamber in the region between the two members and increase the area of a tissue fold that can be drawn into the chamber as the two members are moved toward their compression position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification